Publication Malpractice Statement

PUBLICATION MALPRACTICE STATEMENT

Journal of Wound Research and Technology is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethics in scholarly publishing. The journal follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and best practice, including the guidance and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

General Principles

Publication malpractice in any form is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, duplicate submission, redundant publication, improper authorship or contributorship, citation manipulation, peer-review manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest, unethical research involving human participants or animals, and any other practice that undermines the reliability or integrity of the scholarly record. The journal does not tolerate unethical conduct and will take appropriate editorial action whenever such concerns are identified.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that submitted work is original, accurate, properly cited, and ethically conducted. Authors must confirm that the manuscript has not been submitted simultaneously to another journal, that all listed authors meet appropriate authorship criteria, and that all relevant sources, funding information, and conflicts of interest have been disclosed. Where applicable, authors must also provide evidence of ethics approval, informed consent, and trial registration.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for making fair, objective, transparent, and independent editorial decisions based solely on the scholarly merit, originality, relevance, methodological quality, and ethical integrity of the manuscript. Editors must handle allegations of misconduct appropriately, preserve confidentiality during investigations, and avoid discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, ethnicity, citizenship, or political philosophy.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, timely, and confidential evaluations of manuscripts. Reviewers should disclose any conflict of interest, decline review invitations when necessary, and report any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, ethical concerns, data irregularities, or other possible misconduct to the editor. Reviewers must not use unpublished materials from a submitted manuscript for personal advantage.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher supports the editors, reviewers, and authors in maintaining the integrity of the publication process. The publisher is committed to ethical publishing practices, transparency, and cooperation in the investigation and resolution of suspected misconduct, while safeguarding editorial independence.

Investigation and Actions Against Malpractice

When publication malpractice is suspected, Journal of Wound Research and Technology will assess the concern carefully and follow appropriate editorial and ethical procedures, with reference to relevant COPE guidance. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the case, the journal may request clarification from the authors, seek further evidence, consult reviewers or institutions, or undertake other appropriate investigative steps.

If misconduct or serious unreliability is confirmed, the journal may take one or more editorial actions, including:

  • rejection of the manuscript;
  • publication of a correction;
  • publication of an expression of concern;
  • retraction of the article;
  • withdrawal of the article where appropriate; and/or
  • temporary or permanent restriction on future submissions, depending on the severity of the violation.

Protection of the Scholarly Record

The journal is committed to maintaining the accuracy, trustworthiness, and integrity of the scholarly record. All allegations of malpractice will be handled seriously, fairly, and, where possible, confidentially. The journal may also communicate with authors’ institutions, funding bodies, or other relevant parties when necessary to protect research integrity and the public record.

Author Acknowledgment

By submitting a manuscript to Journal of Wound Research and Technology, authors confirm that they understand and agree to comply with this Publication Malpractice Statement and with the journal’s related ethical and editorial policies.

Related Policies

  • Publication Ethics Policy
  • Corrections, Retractions, Expressions of Concern, and Withdrawal Policy
  • Peer Review Policy
  • Conflict of Interest Policy